Absolutely Kingston & Raynes Park and Surrey February 2019

SURREY

ABSOLUTELY Surrey

FEBRUARY 2019 / £3.95

FE B RUARY 2019

SIMPLE Cooking

Love STORY Perfect gifts for your Valentine

New recipes from Jane Hornby

SWINGING LONDON Revisiting the 1960s at the Fashion & Textile Museum

Going GREEN ZEST.LONDON Kingston_COVER_Feb19.indd 4-5

LIFE ST YLE TRENDS TO LIVE BY ST YLISH / INTELLIGENT / ELEGANT

22/01/2019 16:43

© Copyright & Design Right Charles Yorke Ltd

CY.indd 1

22/01/2019 10:08

Kitchens & Living Spaces HANDCRAFTED IN ENGLAND

Lyon Kitchen

CY.indd 2

For further information please call 01623 756 080 www.charlesyorke.com

22/01/2019 10:08

94 HIGH STREET GUILDFORD GU1 3HE T: 01483 454 091 PRESTONSDIAMONDS.CO.UK

PD.indd 1

20/11/2018 13:55

Precious Stones at Prestons At Prestons our exquisite selection of semi precious & precious stone jewellery is a celebration of colour and style.

An exceptional 10.88ct Columbian GIA certified emerald, surrounded by 0.64ct F/VS quality diamonds.

This piece has been set into a bespoke platinum mount with each diamond delicately handset.

PD.indd 2

20/11/2018 13:56

DANIS H DES IGN SIN C E 1952 | BO CO NCE P T. C O M G U I L D F O R D I 8 9 W OOD BRID GE ROA D , GU IL D F ORD GU1 4QD I 01483 565027 K I N G S T O N I T H E ROU ND HOU SE, 2 0 ED EN S T REET, KI NGSTON UPON THAMES KT1 1EP I 020 8546 6050

BC.indd 1 1305_boconcept_design-sale_absolutely-various-ads_RC_11-18.indd 7-8

30/11/2018 10:51

NOW IN STORE Save up to 20% off furniture and accessories to order and make unmissable savings of up to 50% off clearance and ex-display items in our winter design sale! Remember, we can help you make the most of your space with our free interior design service. You’ll receive a consultation in-store and at home, plus 3D renderings of your space.

To book or for more details, visit us in-store.

FROM DENMARK. TO THE WORLD.

BC.indd 2

30/11/2018 29/11/2018 10:51 17:04

The beauty of bespoke Custom-made shutters, blinds and curtains.

Elegantly transform even the most complex of window spaces with hand crafted shutters, blinds and curtains from Thomas Sanderson.

Discover our bespoke service, precision craftsmanship and innovative products to create inspirationally dressed windows for your home.

MEDIAFORCE.indd 43655 TS London Life1210x297 BLINDS_AW.indd 1

Book a personal design consultation: 0800 688 8138 or visit thomas-sanderson.co.uk

21/01/2019 16:52 11:46 14/01/2019

30 Contents ABSOLUTELY

FEBRUARY 2019

82 12

C U LT U R E ABSOLUTELY LOVES

FOOD & DRINK 48 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

AGENDA

50 RECIPES

10 things we’re coveting this month

16

Diary dates for February

20 SWINGING LONDON

The Fashion and Textile Museum's new show

News from the industry

Jane Hornby's Simple and Classic dishes

INTERIORS 60 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS News and views from the world of design

FA S H I O N 24 THE HOUR

66 THE FAMILY HOME

28 LOCKET LOVER

68 HUNG UP

How plus-size became fabulous

Create your own personal locket with this stylish new jewellery brand

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y 39 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

Yoko Kloeden's design for family life

Warming scents for cold months

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N The online guide to inspirational London living that helps you stay one step ahead of the crowd and gives you the chance to win exclusive prizes.

Everyone wants a mobile on their ceiling

T R AV E L 82 SUMMER SLOPES Summer in Austria

This month’s best beauty buys

43 PERFUME

48

94

PROPERTY LIVING THE DREAM

The most luxurious London properties

ON THE COVER meandem.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Feb19_Contents.indd 9

9

22/01/2019 17:03

EDITOR IN CHIEF PENDLE HARTE DIGITAL EDITOR HELEN BROWN EDUCATION EDITOR AMANDA CONSTANCE GROUP SALES DIRECTOR CRAIG DAVIES GROUP SALES MANAGER ANABELA KOLECI MAGAZINE MANAGER CHARLOTTE RISSBROOK ART DIRECTOR PHIL COUZENS SENIOR DESIGNER PAWEL KUBA MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN DESIGNER CATHERINE PERKINS MARKETING MANAGER LUCIE PEARCE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR JERRIE KOLECI CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTOR JAMES FUSCHILLO NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT PA TO DIRECTORS EVA LEHOCZKY

For editorial enquiries please email: pendle@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 3397 8706 or email: craig@zest-media.com

First Floor, 197 City Road, London EC1V 1JN T: 020 7704 0588 F: 020 7900 3020 zest.london Zest Media Publications Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media Publications Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors.

We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters.

All rights reserved.

Fo l l ow Us O n Fa c e b o o k @ABSOLUTELYMAGAZINES T wi t t e r & In s t a g ra m @ABSOLUTELY_MAGS We b si t e

a b s o l u t e l y. l o n d o n

Jan19_Flannel.indd 10

22/01/2019 15:19

5 LETTER YOKO KLOEDEN

Editor’s

ABSOLUTELY’S February issue highlights

1

THE HOUR LONDON

Beautiful clothes, in larger sizes. page 24

F

We wish she had designed our home. page 64

ebruary is widely agreed to be the most dismal of all months. It's dark, it's cold, there's no fun to be had.

And then there's Valentine's Day, which can go either way. It can cheer us up or it can make us feel worse.

A bottle of pink fizz, an earring or a little chocolate heart can sometimes be enough to renew one's faith in humanity, while the absence of these things can, on a bad day, be devastating. Still, we are featuring lots of delightful pink presents in these pages, along with other joyous things. There's the Fashion & Textile Museum's new exhibition, opening this month, which focuses on London in the 1960s, looking at fashion, design and culture with a large focus on Terence Conran and Mary Quant. We're hoping for an invitation to the opening party, which is rumoured to be fancy dress... also on the subject of clothes is a very contemporary phenomenon: actual stylish clothes for curvy women. We met a fascinating medic-turneddesigner who is pledging, with her brand The Hour London, to make larger clothes with tailoring and detail that we might actually want to wear. Interiors-wise we admire Laura Fulmine's small but perfectly formed apartment, and Yoko Kloeden's design for the ultimate family home. Enjoy February.

PENDLE HARTE EDITOR

2

SWINGING LONDON

Mary Quant rules the Fashion and Textile Museum page 20

4

THE CHOCOLATE LIBERTINE

Chcolate? Hearts? It must be Valentine's Day. page 27

3 VOLTA

Mobiles are the new obsession. page 68

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ED_LETTER_Feb19.indd 11

11

22/01/2019 15:21

Wish LIST 10 things we Absolutely love

Natu ral wonde rs Zarvich is the fashion brand of the moment, specialising in demicouture and leather clothing. It’s the collective work of two designers who met while fi nishing their fashion design studies in Uruguay. Expect luxury pieces handmade from noble, natural materials. zarvich.com

SHUT EYE Featuring a bold floral print in hues of plush rose and poppy red and made from crease-free stretch silk, these Marianne Scarlet silk pyjamas are Yolke’s most sumptuous yet. £470; yolke.co.uk

VE LVET TOUCH Style up your look with these sumptuous velvet pouches from Graham and Green. Add to any outfit as a chic clutch purse, or use to hold makeup, stationery or other valuables. From £11.95; grahamandgreen.co.uk

SPIRITED SCENT Silent Pool Distillers have teamed up with Feather Edge to create a range of luxury, handcrafted candles inspired by the romantic botanicals used in Silent Pool Gin. Choose from citrus blends including Kaffi r Lime and Bergamot Orange. £30; silentpooldistillers.com

COMPILED BY

H E L E N B R OW N

12

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

ABS_Feb19_Abs_Loves.indd 12

22/01/2019 10:56

ABSOLUTELY • LOVES Sharp lines Buyer-turned-designer Racil Chalhoub takes inspiration from the smoking jackets she fell in love with as a young girl. Combining Savile Row materials with influences from her native Beirut, her collections feature sleek, sharp tailoring that will transcend the seasons. racil.com

EARN YOUR STRIPES The Get 'Em Girl maxi dress from Maggie Marilyn is made from ethicallyproduced silk-satin which is lowimpact on the environment. It’s a fun choice for a formal event or easily styled with trainers. £395; net-a-porter.com

EDITOR’S PICK

TAILOR-MADE Carolina Herrera’s Resort ‘19 collection takes inspiration from Palm Springs in the ‘60s. Tailored from wool in a shade named 'Flamingo', this blazer looks even more spectacular with the matching trousers. £2,319; net-a-porter.com

JET SET Say goodbye to winter blues with luxury accessory label, Tila March. The brand embraces a multitude of elegant yet practical handbag silhouettes as well as small leather accessories that will have you dreaming of some summer sun. £94; farfetch.com

HANDBAGS AT DAWN UNDER COVER Not content with merely shaking up the beauty market, Rihanna has turned her hand to our underwear drawers. Her Savage x Fenty lingerie is a celebration of the female form in all shapes and sizes. £43.99. zalando.co.uk

With its triangular silhouette and candy pink acrylic fi nish, The Kofo clutch bag from LarAllan is quite the statement-maker. Take yours from the office to the afterparty. £630; larallan.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_Feb19_Abs_Loves.indd 13

13

22/01/2019 10:57

RG.indd 1

21/01/2019 11:47

C U LT U R E ANA JAKS, NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL; THE POSTER PRIZE FOR ILLUSTRATION 2019: LONDON STORIES; LTMUSEUM.CO.UK

What’s on 16 • Top theatre picks 19 • Swinging London 20 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Feb19_Culture_Opener.indd 15

15

22/01/2019 15:21

The Agenda

LO N D O N ’S H OT T E ST H A P P E N I N G S

T H E AT R E

Cougar From 1 February O R A N G E T R E E T H E AT R E Leila wants to inspire global change. John needs to get his life together. They have an arrangement, but managing an affair isn’t easy when the world around you is falling apart. From author Rose Lewenstein who also brought us Darknet and Game of Life, this is a compelling new play about what - and who - we consume.

Lyric Square, King Street, W6; lyric.co.uk

T H E AT R E

BABYLON F RO M 4 F E B RUA RY • BUS H THEATRE

Not-to-be-missed this month, Bush Theatre presents Babylon, a two-week celebration of the global minorities influencing British culture today. Week one welcomes a series of music gigs, cabaret, live podcasts and workshops, with headliners including gal-dem and The Cocoa Butter Club. Week two sees the world premiere of BABYLON: Beyond Borders, an international collaboration between four theatres as they explore land, exile, migration and language.

7 Uxbridge Road, W12; bushtheatre.co.uk

16

T H E AT R E

Leave to Remain Until 16 February LY R I C Obi and Alex are a young gay couple leading busy London lives. When Alex’s visa comes into question, their relationship takes a turn, forcing them to confront their unsettling pasts. Told through a mix of music, movement and drama, Leave to Remain is a tender portrait of love in the face of an uncertain future. Lyric Square, King Street, W6; lyric.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

West_Feb19_Culture_Agenda.indd 16

22/01/2019 15:26

CULTURE • TALKING TOPICS

D AY

O UT

KEW ORCHIDS F E S T I VA L From 9 February KEW GARDENS Kew’s annual festival of orchids returns to celebrate to world’s most biodiverse county, Columbia. Visitors will follow a curated route of orchid-laden displays that bring to life the breath-taking rainbow river Caño Cristales and Colombia's incredible forests - complete with life-sized jaguar Richmond, TW9 3AB; kew.org

AROUND

TOWN T H E AT R E

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: TOTEM Until 26 February R OYA L A L B E R T H A L L Cirque du Soleil is back with another spectacular showcase of jaw-dropping circus acts and high-flying acrobatics. Totem takes its audience on an exhilarating journey into the evolution of mankind.

Kensington Gore, SW7; royalalberthall.com

T H E AT R E

RUTHERFORD & SON 8-16 February Q U E S T O R S T H E AT R E When Rutherford’s glass-making business comes into trouble, a battle of wills between father and son ensues as both make individual attempts to save the factory. Fading power, dashed hopes and family secrets take centre stage in this gripping portrayal of two generations as they struggle with class, feminism and freedom.

12 Mattock Lane, W5; questore.org.uk

E XHI B I TI ON

CHRISTIAN DIOR: DESIGNER OF DREAMS

This Month’s Must See

IMAGE CREDIT: LEWIS HINE.

EALING MUSIC & FILM FESTIVAL

T

13 - 17 F E B RUARY • VARIOUS EALIN G VEN UE S

he Ealing Music & Film Festival returns for a seventh successive year with an impressive line-up celebrating the area’s cultural heritage. Expect a delightful array of music, from classical to blues, plus an unmissable roster of films guaranteed to enrich and engage audiences of all ages.

From 2 February V& A Spanning 1947 to the present day, this unmissable exhibition traces the history and impact of one of the 20th century’s most influential couturiers, exploring the enduring influence of the fashion house and Dior’s relationship with Britain.

Cromwell Road, SW7; vam.ac.uk

C E L E B R AT I O N

CHINESE NEW YEAR IN LONDON 5 February C H I N AT O W N & THE WEST END As usual, Chinese New Year will be one of the most exciting events in London’s calendar. Join in the spectacular celebrations - the largest outside of Asia - and see the colourful parade, watch free performances and marvel at the pyrotechnics displays.

ealingmusicandfilmfestival.org

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

West_Feb19_Culture_Agenda.indd 17

17

22/01/2019 15:26

ORIGINAL, LIMITED-EDITION ART DECO POSTERS

Limited to editions of 280, our newly-commissioned Art Deco posters feature glamorous holiday destinations around the world, ski resorts in the Austrian, French and Swiss Alps, and the world’s greatest historic automobiles. Over 100 designs to choose from, all printed on 100% cotton fine art paper, measuring 97 x 65 cms.

Priced at £395 each.

Private commissions are also welcome.

Pullman Editions Ltd 94 Pimlico Road Chelsea London SW1W 8PL www.pullmaneditions.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 0547 Email: georgina@pullmaneditions.com

Our central London gallery

All images and text copyright © Pullman Editions Ltd. 2018

View and buy online at w w w.pullmaneditions.com PULLMAN.indd 1

19/11/2018 09:40

CULTURE • THEATRE

ROUND UP

Best in SHOW Get the most out of London’s theatre scene with our top stage picks for the month

By H E L E N B R O W N

MUST SEE

All About Eve From 2 February

NOEL COWARD THEATRE

Starring Gillian Anderson and Lily James, All About Eve is the chilling story of female jealousy and ambition made famous as the 1950 classic Bette Davis film. Directed by Olivier award-winning Ivo Van Hove and with new music by PJ Harvey, the play asks why our fascination with celebrity, youth and identity never seems to get old.

85-88 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N; allabouteveplay.com

Home, I’m Darling Ongoing

DUKE OF YORK'S THEATRE

Every couple needs a little fantasy to keep their marriage sparkling. But behind the gingham curtains, things start to unravel, and being a domestic goddess is not as easy as it seems.

Katherine Parkinson of The IT Crowd and Humans fame plays Judy in this piercingly funny new comedy about one woman’s quest to be the perfect 1950's housewife. Upper Ground, Lambeth, SE1; national theatre.org.uk

Nine Night

NINE NIGHT

Until 9 February

TRAFALGAR STUDIOS

Natasha Gordon takes to the stage in the role of Lorraine as her debut play transfers from the National Theatre.

Gloria is gravely sick. When her time comes, the celebration begins; the traditional Jamaican Nine Night Wake.

But for her family, marking her death with a party is a test. Nine Night is a touching and funny exploration of the rituals of family by way of nine rum-fuelled nights of music, food and storytelling. 14 Whitehall, Westminster, SW1A; atgtickets.com

Waitress

From 8 February ADELPHI THEATRE

Waitress is the toe-tapping musical adaptation of the hit 2017 film of the same name. It follows Jenna played

by Katharine McPhee, a small-town waitress trapped in an abusive marriage but dreaming of escape - which she seeks to effect by winning the big bucks in a pie-making contest.

Strand, WC2R; waitressthemusical.co.uk

Only Fools & Horses: The Musical From 9 February

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET

John Sullivan’s iconic Only Fools and Horses has been turned into a brand new, West End musical spectacular.

With a script and original score by John’s son, Jim Sullivan and comedy giant Paul Whitehouse, prepare to get reacquainted with Britain’s most loveable rogues and experience the classic comedy brought to life once again through 20 ingenious and hilarious songs. 18 Suffolk Street, SW1Y; onlyfoolsmusical.com

WAITRESS

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N ONLY FOOLS & HORSES: THE MUSICAL

Abs_Feb19_Theatre Roundup.indd 19

19

22/01/2019 10:58

THE SWINGING

CITY London in the 1960s is the subject of a new exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum. Absolutely has a preview Wo r d s E V E H E R B E R T

20

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

ABS_Feb19_SWINGING LONDON.indd 20

22/01/2019 10:59

Model wearing Pattern No. 3288, set against the Houses of Parliament. Taken from the feature announcing the launch of Quant’s designs for Butterick Paper patterns, August 1964. Photo by John Walcott. Image(s) taken from Conran/ Quant: Swinging London: A Lifestyle Revolution, published by ACC Art Books.

ARTS & CULTURE • PREVIEW

The flat of Colin St John Wilson, architect of the British Library, 1952, with furniture by Terence Conran.

Photo by Michael Wickham. Copyright Denny Wickham. Image(s) taken from Conran/Quant: Swinging London: A Lifestyle Revolution, published by ACC Art Books.

S

winging London: A Lifestyle Revolution presents the fashion, design and art of the Chelsea Set, a group of radical young architects, designers, photographers and artists who were redefining the concept of youth and challenging the established order in 1950s London. At the forefront of this group of young revolutionaries were Mary Quant and Terence Conran.

Spanning the period from 1952 – 1977, the exhibition includes fashion, textiles, furniture, lighting, homewares, ceramics and ephemera, exploring not only the style but the socio-economic importance of this transformative period. Key pieces include rare and early examples of designs

by Conran and Quant, plus the avantgarde artists, designers and intellectuals who worked alongside them, such as designers Bernard and Laura Ashley, sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi and artist and photographer Nigel Henderson. PVC coats, OP Art and Space Age dresses by Mary Quant are seen alongside the early smocks, textile designs and dresses of Laura and Bernard Ashley and the modern wicker, steel and glass furniture of Terence Conran.

The exhibition also includes the textiles, ceramics and furniture of Eduardo Paolozzi and Nigel Henderson, who were founding members of the Independent Group and together created innovative designs under their company, Hammer Prints, set up in 1954.

The exhibition spotlights not only the design of the period, but also the creation of trailblazing shopping experiences from Mary Quant’s rebellious London boutique ‘Bazaar’ (opened in 1955) to Terence Conran’s Habitat (opened in 1964). These shops were not just about

Mary Quant by Vic Singh, c.1961. Courtesy of a Private Collection.

designing for a new youth generation, but also promoting a new way of shopping and living. With Bazaar, Quant irreversibly altered the traditional approach to fashion design and retailing and outraged the all-powerful French fashion establishment.

With Habitat, Conran created a retail environment that was a total work of art; ‘a Gesamntkunstwerk’, combining the theatre of The Chelsea Set’s London, with the relatively new phenomenon of ‘serve yourself’, supermarket-style shopping.

The influence of France (Conran first visited in 1953) can be seen in Conran’s informal, light and bright styling, with merchandise piled high, reminiscent of

the hustle and bustle of a colourful street market. Early designs by Quant for Bazaar are plain, unadorned and unstructured; simple pinafores with dropped waistlines often worn with coloured stockings. A remarkable cotton, red and white Broderie Anglaise lounging ensemble by Quant (1955/56), will be shown alongside a range of furniture, fabrics, enamelware and ephemera from the first days of Habitat.

In order to spotlight not just the fashion, but the lifestyle and design of the time, Swinging London: A Lifestyle Revolution is presented in the form of detailed tableaus.

During the mid 1950s, the increasing availability of inexpensive foreign package holidays and of films with exotic European settings inspired the eruption of coffee bars, bistros and other such distinctly continental establishments on British high streets.

Throughout the exhibition, individual sets are inspired by these new and exciting continental trends, utilising fashion, furniture, textiles, ceramics and more to highlight how changes in social attitude intertwined with new ways of shopping, to create the designs that are now synonymous with 1960s life.

There’s also an insight into the lesserknown early work of Laura and Bernard Ashley, whose ideas were influencing culture long before their iconic florals.

Bernard Ashley’s textile design, Jazz Players, was probably the first example of a ‘Pop’ textile, whilst Laura’s simple hardwearing striped smocks, aprons and the easy to wear ‘basic dress’ would go on to become design classics. Furnishing fabrics

by Laura and Bernard Ashley will be shown alongside ceramics by W.R Midwinter, jewellery by Wendy Ramshaw, textiles

by David Whitehead, lighting by Bernard Schottlander, untouched makeup palettes and accessories by Mary Quant and myriad other ephemera, which will together create a comprehensive insight into the period.

SWINGING LONDON A Lifestyle Revolution runs from 8 February to 2 June at the Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, SE1 ftmlondon.org

Illustration PHIL COUZENS

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_Feb19_SWINGING LONDON.indd 21

21

22/01/2019 10:59

BO.indd 1

21/01/2019 16:37

FASHION

BEST DRESSED ZA RV I C H

Zarvich’s embroidered tulle dress is part of the delicate and conceptual SS19 collection from this Uruguayan label. zarvich.com

Curvy fashion from The Hour London 24 · Valentine's Day gifts 27 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Feb19_MANDKHAI_Fashion_Opener.indd 23

23

22/01/2019 15:28

Q&A

curve LEARNING

Absolutely meets Nana Rasoeva, whose brand The Hour London is redefining the world of plus-size fashion W o r d s P E A R L B OY D

N I founded the brand to liberate women like myself with more options 24

ana Rasoeva found luxury plus size women’s clothing uninspiring, which prompted her to launch a collection of elevated essentials.

As a trained doctor, Nana has empathy and an understanding of the female form. This proved invaluable when she launched her second career, dedicated to creating wardrobe solutions for curvy women. Nana studied patternmaking and design at London College of Fashion. Together with one of the industry’s most experienced luxury pattern cutters she devised a way of using her knowledge to create clothes that are empowering and lend confidence. Honed to perfectly serve women with curves, the brand focuses on elegant, beautifully executed designs.

Q Plus size isn’t normally design-led. Why is this? How are you making it work?

A I strongly believe that style is about expressing yourself, and making sure you look

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

ABS_Feb19_THE HOUR LONDON.indd 24

22/01/2019 15:29

FASHION • Q&A

I am not afraid of creating a strong silhouette or adding a bit of flounce that involves ingenious pattern cutting techniques and a preference for French seams. Finish is also hugely important. We use textures that feel soft and unrestrictive against the skin such as silk, viscose and wool mixes of the finest quality.

Q You used to be a doctor – we’ve never encountered a doctor-turned- fashion designer before. How did this come about?

A I started out as a gynaecologist and obstetrics doctor. After having my third child I put my career on hold and dedicated my time raising my boys and, as sometimes happens when you are a busy mum, I went up a couple of dress sizes. This, inadvertently, led me in a new direction. I have studied patternmaking and design at London College of Fashion. Together with one of the industry’s most experienced luxury pattern cutters I devised a way of using my knowledge to create clothes that are empowering and lend confidence.

Q Were you always interested in fashion?

In my early years I always had an interest in art and fashion. I had a good eye for proportions and my friends would always ask for my help and advice in putting outfits together.

Q What has feedback been like so far?

A Our customers were delighted to find us

and feel great regardless of size or age.I found plus size women’s clothing uninspiring, often shapless and made of cheap polyester. The more I continued to try and shop for luxury plus-size clothes, the more I realised they were nearly non-existent. I founded the brand to liberate women like myself with more options.

I am not afraid of creating a strong silhouette or adding a bit of flounce. I think that sometimes women with curvy shapes are afraid of adding any volume anywhere, but it’s precisely a bit of volume in the right places - such as on the sleeve - that brings balance to the overall look.

because the choices for plus size clothing are so limited. They are emailing back to thank us for the quality of the clothes and for all the compliments they are receiving when wearing The Hour. We are getting repeat orders from our loyal customers from the UK, Europe, US and Middle East (they sometimes order two of the same item). We count Dawn French as our celebrity customer, she loved our Square Neck Dress.

thehourlondon.com

Q How do you approach tailoring?

A Precision, proportion and careful

sculpting have helped us put shape back into plus size women’s clothing. We are adept at cutting for curves whether it’s balancing proportions or shaping the waist to accentuate the sweeping arc of the female form. Ours is a bespoke approach A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_Feb19_THE HOUR LONDON.indd 25

25

22/01/2019 15:29

SWEETPEA.indd 1

21/01/2019 09:42

FASHION • VALENTINE

DRAJEE Gold arrow drop earrings, £200 drajee.com

CHOCOLATE LIBERTINE Chocolate heart lolly, £4.49 selfridges.com

VICTORIA CATOR La Vie en Rose candle, £55 victoriacator.com

EDITOR’S PICK JO MALONE LONDON Valentine's day floral box, £140; selfridges.com

NATIVE UNION CLIC Terrazzo iPhone X case, £50; conranshop.co.uk

TIFFANY Ball wire bracelet, £1,400 tiffany.co.uk

I HEART YOU

DIPTYQUE Centifolia, £53 diptyqueparis.com

POMMERY Brut Rose Royal gift box, £47.99 ocado.com

Valentine’s gifts galore

By P E N D L E H A R T E

SNIPH Valentine's giftbox , £25 sniph.co.uk

HARVEY NICHOLS I Heart Emoji U Chocolate Box, £17.95 harveynichols.com

BLOOM AND WILD Wild at Heart letterbox flowers, £34 bloomandwild.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_FEB19_VALENTINES.indd 27

27

22/01/2019 15:30

HK.indd 1

19/11/2018 17:26

FASHION • JEWELLERY

Heart’s desire Pieces you’ll love for Valentine’s Day

SWAROVSKI

GUCCI

ROSA DE LA CRUZ

Oxo Necklace, £119

Heart necklace in silver, £315

Rose Gold and Diamond Heart Ring, £550

swarovski.com

farfetch.com

farfetch.com

JOMA JEWELLERY

BENTLEY & SKINNER

LUCY JADE SYLVESTER

Wishing Bracelet, £15.99

A Regency gold heart locket pendant, £7,750

Twig Heart Pendant, £65

jomajewellery.com

bentley-skinner.co.uk

lucysylvester.co.uk

VERSACE

MISSOMA

TIFFANY & CO.

Embossed heart necklace, £870

Folded Pace Heart Bracelet, £69

Love Pendant, £2,250

farfetch.com

missoma.com

tiffany.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Abs_Feb19_Jewellery.indd 29

29

22/01/2019 11:03

CHARM SCHOOL WHEN YOU CREATE YOUR OWN LOCKET , THE RESULTS ARE AS INDIVIDUAL AS YOU ARE LO Q U E T LO N D O N .CO M

Feb19_Shoot_6pp.indd 30

22/01/2019 11:05

Feb19_Shoot_6pp.indd 31

22/01/2019 11:05

Feb19_Shoot_6pp.indd 32

22/01/2019 11:05

Feb19_Shoot_6pp.indd 33

22/01/2019 11:06

Feb19_Shoot_6pp.indd 34

22/01/2019 11:06

British Fine Jewellery Label, Loquet London is the brainchild of best friends Sheherazade Goldsmith and Laura Bailey. Part charm necklace, part Loquet, the classic clear crystal face can be filled with personal gems, birthstones and trinkets so each pieces of jewellery are completely different and personal to the wearer.

Styled by Cathy Casterine, shot by Jesse Jenkins, hair and make-up by Siddhartha Simone and modelled by Amber Anderson

Feb19_Shoot_6pp.indd 35

22/01/2019 11:06

LP.indd 1

26/10/2018 16:37

HEALTH & BEAUTY

CHANCE EAU TENDRE CHANEL

With Chance Eau Tendre eau de parfum, Chanel perfumer Olivier Polge reinterprets the floral-fruity signature in a bold and intense adaptation. More feminine than ever, its floral heart accentuates the fullness of exotic jasmine absolute, enriched with an essence of rose. chanel.co.uk

Beauty Notes 39 • Perfume 43 • Fitness 45 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Feb19_Beauty_Opener.indd 37

37

22/01/2019 15:32

BARRECORE.indd 1

19/11/2018 16:59

HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES

BEAUTY NOTES

Skin scrubs, sultry new scents and a skin palette with a difference B y H E L E N B R OW N

FITNESS SPOTLIGHT

ALL ORGANIC

BHUTI

Eco-wellness escape and studio

AU ST I N AU S T I N

Made in East Anglia and only tested on humans, all of Austin Austin’s products are certified organic by the Soil Association and COSMOS. Free from GM ingredients, SLS, silicones, parabens, mineral oils and artificial colours and fragrances, we love their soothing neroli and petitgrain body soap. £16;

B

austinaustinorganic.com

EDITOR’S PICK

WITHOUT A TRACE TO M F O R D

This hydrating foundation from Tom Ford glides on effortlessly for blendable, buildable coverage. Portable and precise, the Traceless Foundation Stick is always beautifully natural and with nine brand new shades added to the line, is set to be the most undetectable thing you’ll put on your face this year. £66;

BRUSH AWAY TRUTHBRUSH

Every year over a billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away worldwide, ending up in landfill, in the sea or washed up on our beaches. Created from 100% biodegradable organic bamboo and dipped in REACH approved paint, the Truthbrush makes a stylish and guilt-free addition to your bathroom shelf. £4;

tomford.co.uk

huti is an eco wellbeing centre, day spa, yoga studio, fitness members’ club and vegan cafe located on Hill Rise. Sanskrit for

“wellbeing”, the word bhuti refers to our inner voice - the one we don't always listen to but that tells us what we really need to do to be happy.

Offering over 60 yoga and Pilates classes a week, 50 hi-tech holistic spa treatments, complementary therapies, as well as wellness events, bhuti is the realisation of a long-held dream by local mum, Sama, who wanted to create a place of everyday escapism for all.

At bhuti, guests can indulge in treatments, such as Ila Kundalini, Crystal Sonic Rejuvenation, a facial treatment which applies crystals and sound therapy to acupressure points, Ayurveda, an ancient healing ritual from India, and even astrology readings. bhuti uses luxury organic British brands, including Oskia, Ila, and Neom.

Bhuti membership (Fearne Cotton and Jessie Wood included) is available on a yearly or monthly basis and includes an annual wellbeing consultation with a qualified therapist, free events and classes. Visitors and members alike can also enjoy the venue’s organic, Soil Associationcertified vegan kitchen, which serves up delicious gluten and sugar-free dishes. Or, for an ethical gift, head to the bhuti shop which stocks local producers including ILU, No Balls, Salt Yoga, and wanderlust jewellery. What better way to kick off 2019?

BHUTI 50 Hill Rise, Richmond TW10

bhuti.co

thetruthbrush.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Feb19_Beauty Notes.indd 39

39

22/01/2019 15:33

B OOK YOU R

TWO WEEK

EXPERIENCE only

£39

Come and train like the stars at F45 Training RAVENSCOURT PARK 0208 222 8261

0207 251 8062

150 King St | London | W60 QU

Basement, 9-13 Cowcross St, (Rear entrance) | EC1M 6DR

ravenscourtpark@f45training.co.uk

farringdon@f45training.co.uk

www.f45training.co.uk/ravenscourtpark F45.indd 1

FARRINGDON

www.f45training.co.uk/farringdon 19/11/2018 16:59

ABSOLUTELY • PROMOTION

Why we won the iS Clinical Award for Best Clinic South England

BEST in show Leading clinic Health & Aesthetics on what it means to be the best in the industry

J

ust before Christmas, we were thrilled to be awarded the accolade of the iS Clinical Award for Best Clinic South England, at the prestigious Aesthetics Awards. Come the following morning, as we were polishing up our trophy to put alongside the others we’ve won over the years, one of our patients said; “Brilliant! I’m thrilled for you. But why does that matter to me?” That got us thinking.

“Why do we enter awards, and what does it mean for our patients?”

Why Aesthetics industry awards should matter to you.

The injectables industry is an unregulated one. Practitioners can opt to join an online register, but even then, the competency requirements are rather basic.

That means that across the industry, standards of treatment, safety and patient care can vary hugely. A medical doctor, dentist or other professional – such as a solicitor or financial adviser – has to adhere to the requirements of a regulatory body, and can be prevented from practising if they don’t. In the aesthetics industry, almost anyone can carry out almost any nonsurgical treatment, even injectables.

Judged by a respected industry panel, Health & Aesthetics won this award as a reflection of our ongoing commitment to providing clinical excellence and exceptional standards of care to our patients. It’s our aim to delight all our patients with the results we achieve, but our duty of care also means that their safety is paramount.

We also only use FDA-approved products, which means that they have been extensively tested and monitored, not just for safety, but for their effectiveness. We are CQC registered and have met or exceeded all their requirements.

One judge commented on our entry, saying, “They are very focused on customer service” whilst another said, “simply exceptional”.

Dr. Tailor, our Medical Director, said “The whole Health & Aesthetics team is delighted to have received recognition from such respected industry awards. It symbolises all our hard work, dedication and ongoing commitment to offering the very best that the aesthetic industry has to offer. We pride ourselves on being able to provide our patients with safe, clinically proven, results driven treatments that allows them to feel both confident and cared for.”

As well as being a fully accredited General Practitioner, Dr Tailor has over 13 years of experience in non-surgical aesthetics medicine, and is one of the UK’s leading aesthetics specialists. She is a member of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine and the Aesthetic Complications Expert Group, and aims to encourage other leading aesthetics specialists to join her in calling for regulation and improvements to safety in our industry, for the sake of all our patients.

What are the Aesthetics Awards?

Each year, the Aesthetics Awards brings together top medical aesthetics professionals and leaders in their fields to celebrate the achievements of the past year. Awards are presented to those clinics, individual practitioners, manufacturers and suppliers who have worked hard to represent the highest standards in clinical excellence, product innovation and practice achievement, while truly excelling in the field of aesthetic medicine.

H E A LT H A N D A E ST H E T I C S For more information and to book a consultation, call 01252 0888 875 or email info@healthandaesthetics.co.uk • healthandaesthetics.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_Feb18_Health_and_Aesthetics ADV.indd 41

41

23/01/2019 10:01

21 February Looking to keep the kids entertained this half term?

On 21 February, the ever popular Thumbs Up It’s Thursday returns to Kingston town centre with a range of fun activities from face painting and craft workshops to kids eat free offers.

inkingston.co.uk KF.indd 1

22/01/2019 15:21

NVH.indd 1

05/12/2018 15:47

• KINGSTON_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 1

22/01/2019 15:41

HEALTH & BEAUTY • SCENT

PERFUME

HOT STUFF Olfactory winter warmers B y M I C H A E L D O N OVA N

F

ebruary is notoriously our coldest month and, as I write, it is predicted that the ‘Beast From The East’ will return to British shores.

So to warm you up and leave your skin and nose aglow I thought it would be appropriate to suggest a collection of olfactory winter warmers.

From woods and spices to amber-resinous scents, each and every one of these cosy fragrances will envelope you in a comforting, security blanket, adding an extra layer of defence against harsh winter chills.

One of our best-selling, toasty perfumes is Amber by Laboratory Perfumes. We usually have a waiting list for this one once the temperatures plummet. The fragrance conjures a stroll along the East Anglia coastline, with fresh green notes of the diverse grasses carried by the breeze across the windswept plains of the Fens, adding energy and vitality. The heart, of woods and spices, delivers the gloves and scarf but it is the wool greatcoat of amber that really delivers a sense of rosy wellbeing.

Labdanum is one of my favourite winter notes. A sticky resin obtained from a species of the rock rose, it was used in ancient Egypt and is mentioned in the Bible twice. It is also the main ingredient in the Amber perfumes. My favourite incarnation is Grey Labdanum by Abel, a 100% natural fragrance which utilises the dark incense to perfection. Combined with earthy patchouli and clary sage, plus a dash of winter sun in the form of bitter orange at the top, this is a smouldering scent of great quality.

Feu Secret by San Franciscan Bruno Fazzolari imagines the secret fire of the alchemists: the elusive scent of iris root smoulders with spice, cedar and smoke in a transformative hidden blaze. Bright, joyful and ardent, this one makes your toes curl in the good way.

Chambre Noir by Olfactive Studio is a sultry and enigmatic fragrance that looks to the shadows for inspiration. Intense and slightly spicy, it's a deep, rich scent, redolent of leather, incense, and patchouli. With a lightly spiced opening of pink peppercorn in the top notes, the floral, smoky heart gently dies away and we are left with a classic base of musk and a striking vanilla accord. It’s daring and naughty - the 'Eyes Wide Shut' of fragrance!

We are introducing a new collection called Bon Parfumeur from Paris this month. The range uses what we in the industry call ‘short formulae', which means that they are minimal in terms of the ingredients they use. I think less is more and simplicity can really work. It allows us to recognise and connect with almost all of the notes. 902 from this range uses coffee and armagnac over tobacco and cannelle to create a deliciously gourmand fragrance, it imagines a ski chalet before a roaring fire. The leather of the sofas and the pousse-café blend into a post-piste cloud of privilege and comfort.

Berlin Im Winter from Baruti is a stunning scent that captures the energy and effusive welcome of the city. Cassis and mastic oil over iris, plum, frankincense and myrrh are hypnotising and a clever urban collation of whiskey with amber, tonka bean and leather would not be out of place at Soho House. Modern and moving.

Finally the Dante-esque Fuoco Infernale or Hell Fire from Linari takes us to the very gates, with an enticing blend of carnation and labdanum, warm cinnamon, herbal marjoram and tar-like birch. A simple heart of bittersweet tonka bean and olibanum descend into a firy pit of spicy gurjan balsam, backed by clean white musk and premium atlas cedar, before meeting opulent ambergris for a luxurious and sophisticated finish. Devilish.

February should be about indulgence so wrap yourselves up in a warm and wonderful fragrance - the olfactory equivalent of a toasted crumpet.

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_Feb19_Perfume.indd 43

43

22/01/2019 11:18

THE LARGEST FITNESS EQUIPMENT SHOWROOM IN FRIMLEY. Come and try before you buy Help and advice from our expert sales team Unrivalled range of quality brands Home Gym Equipment for all budgets 0% finance packages available

MENT P I U Q E L FOR ALTS! BUDGE

FIND TOP BRANDS AT THE BEST PRICES

30/32 Frimley High Street, Frimley, Camberley, Surrey, GU16 7JD 0% FINANCE AVAILABLE | TRY BEFORE YOU BUY | EXPERT IN-STORE ADVICE 1000s MORE PRODUCTS | VISIT ONE OF OUR 10 UK STORES | OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK ✔ In-store demonstration ✔ Buy Now - Pay Later ✔ Expert Advice ✔ Free Delivery ✔ Never Beaten On Price

Call 01276 818542 or visit fitness-superstore.co.uk *T’s & C’s apply, see website for more details.

FS.indd 1

25/07/2018 10:57

HEALTH & BEAUTY • ACTIVE

FITNESS NOTES

By H E L E N B R O W N

2019 FITNESS E V E N T S TO B O O K N OW

S W E A T

PULLMAN LONDON ST PANCRAS X TRACK LIFE LDN performance running set to W ith be one of the biggest fitness trends of 2019, Pullman London St Pancras has teamed up with Track Life LDN to invite Londoners to train like an athlete. The monthly Running Club see attendees meet at Pullman London St Pancras for a pre-run warm up before heading to Regents Park, with a route that will take in a number of London’s iconic landmarks. 5 February 6:30pm – 9:00pm. To register, e-mail your name and telephone number to H5309-SL@accor.com.

BRUNCH, YOGA AND BONNARD AT TATE MODERN Tate Modern is collaborating t with FRAME to host a morning Yin Yoga class and post-yoga brunch.

Suitable for all levels, Yin Yoga invites you to embrace the natural daylight and breathtaking view overlooking St Paul’s and the Thames, before tucking into a healthy brunch. As part of the yoga and brunch package, there will be the opportunity to visit The C C Land Exhibition: Pierre Bonnard.

February 2 & 9; tate.org.uk LONDON LANDMARKS HALF MARATHON he London Landmarks Half t Marathon takes runners through both the City of London and the City of Westminster and is jam-packed with entertainment, music and cheer stations. In 2018, the inaugural event raised £4.98m for over 102 different charities. The target for 2019 is £6 million.

24 March 2019; llhm.co.uk 30 DAYS OF WELLNESS AT SOUTH PLACE HOTEL outh Place Hotel has curated a s ’30 Days of Wellness’ programme to keep your food and fitness goals on track throughout the cold winter months. Expect healthy non-alcoholic cocktails from Seeplip, inspirational talks and yoga, strength and flexibility classes guided

by Oitoo Fitness. Follow @ southplacehotel on Instagram for exclusive health and fitness tips, and to be in with a chance of winning 30 days of Wellness goodies each week; southplacehotel.com

Abs_Feb19_Fitness.indd 45

I T We try out the latest in London’s line-up of boutique gyms

S

Wo r d s H E L E N B R O W N

weat It in Aldwych is one of the latest boutique gyms adding to London’s wellness landscape with its unfiltered, raw approach to functional training.

The Sweat It approach combines targeted strength training with intervals on the treadmill. If you’ve ever been to Barry’s Bootcamp or 1Rebel, you’ll know the drill.

However the equipment is more

high-tech, so first-timers are advised to get in early to catch a demonstration. The studio is centred around the mecca that is the bespoke functional rig, with a custom line up of equipment including landmines, free weights and resistance bands. The gym itself is a luxury, urban space lined with a fleet of treadmills.

Each class works on speed, strength and endurance sessions with the promise to constantly

switch up the class content to ensure each muscle group is targeted. I’m here to try Engine Room, but I could have chosen from a range of inventively-named classes (Heart & Hustle, Machine Guns, Guts & Glory, Pillar Killer, Compound60). Engine Room is an explosive lower body session that works on the largest muscle group with speed and stamina.

First up, it’s floor work. The landmine is a really effective piece of equipment and our coach is brilliant at ensuring we use it to its fullest potential. The session involves a range of weighted exercises including Hungarian split squats, lunges and deadlifts.

With heavy legs we jump onto the treadmill where we complete interval sprints and hill climbs. We go through three rounds of this before leaving high on endorphins and pouring with sweat - the clue is in the name. This is a class that can torch fat and sculpt muscles. Sign us back up.

SWEAT IT 4 Lean Street, WC2B; sweat-it.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

45

22/01/2019 11:19

AWARDED DOUBLE GOLD AT THE SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION 2018 marylebonegin

CUTLASS.indd 1 Marylebone_210-297.indd 1

22/11/2018 21/11/2018 14:57 16:22

FOOD & DRINK

KRICKET WHITE CITY

This month, Absolutely eats out at Indian restaurant Kricket's latest installation in the iconic Television Centre. It’s the largest to date and does not disappoint. kricket.co.uk

Food Notes 48 • Recipies 50 • Food Review 55 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Feb19_Food_Opener.indd 47

47

22/01/2019 15:35

WHAT TO DRINK

GRAPE news

TASTING NOTES

London’s food news and most exciting openings this February

By FLORA THOMAS

Wine recommendations for the month

By MICHAEL NADRA

Lapilli Falanghina  £30 An ancient grape, cultivated in the province of Naples. This straw yellow Falanghina is an excellent summer wine: dry, fruity and very refreshing with notes of tangy citrus and sweeter tropical hints of pineapple and white peach.

Verso Rosso  £34 This is a rich and inviting wine from Puglia. It has ripe and dried fruits, dark chocolate and black pepper spice.

Full bodied, mouth filling and velvety, sweet dark fruit balanced with some bramble characters and welcome tannins. Very easy drinking.

2018 Verus Sauvignon Blanc  £36 Owned by three friends, the vineyards are located around Ormoz in the appellation of Styria (Stajerska). The Wine has vibrant fruit with the classic gooseberry, passionfruit and nettles aromas; good depth of flavour and length. Crisp and elegant on the palate.

RESTAURANT MICHAEL NADRA Combining excellent produce with elegant service in sophisticated surroundings, the restaurant offers an innovative dining experience within an intimate and relaxed environment of a neighbourhood restaurant.

6/8 Elliott Rdm Chiswick W4 1PE

restaurant-michaelnadra.co.uk

48

FRESH CHEF CHAKRA

Guest chef Saurav Nath, formerly at the Michelin Starred Benares & Gymkhana, will host a pre-Valentine’s supperclub at Chakra's Kingston branch on 10 Feburary. Kekra Shankhi Machali (steamed Devon crab samosa, butter poached Atlantic scallop, red coconut masala & lemon grass oil) is set to be a highlight. Don't miss out on the strawberry mousse dessert.

Bishops Palace House, 1 Riverside Walk, KT1 1QN chakra.restaurant

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

KINGSTON FOOD NOTES.indd 48

22/01/2019 16:22

FOOD & DRINK• NOTES Our pick of the best

VALENTINE'S HOT SPOTS

ANGLER

Sound bites

The renowned restaurant is serving a Valentine's tasting menu full of seafood treats. To start, enjoy a glass of rosé champagne alongside aged Beaufort and truffle gougeres. The final course involves a suitably pink Yorkshire rhubarb and Sable Breton with stem ginger and Greek basil. anglerrestaurant.com

DYSART PETERSHAM

Edible and audible treats are in store at Dysart Petersham this month. On 10 February guests at the family owned and run restaurant will be graced by pianist Reinis Zariņš. The Head Chef and his team emphasise freshness, well balanced flavours, ethical sourcing and country values.

135 Petersham Rd, Richmond TW10 7AA thedysartpetersham.co.uk

TURKISH DELIGHT YENI

From the banks of the Bosphorus, Yeni Lokanta brings the food and culture of Istanbul to Soho. Drawing influence from the different ethnicities that unite on the streets of chef Civan Er’s hometown, vegetable dishes such as aubergine filled manti with goats’ yoghurt and fish dishes like sea bass with raki and feta are on offer.

55 Beak St, Soho, W1F 9SH website in development

4 5 J E R M Y N S T. The interiors at this award-winning restaurant set the scene for romantic dining with old-school glamour décor, low lighting and intimate booths.

Don't miss the starter of oysters, the ultimate aphrodisiac. Go on to indulge in show-stopping mains like lobster spaghetti, flambéed tableside before guests eyes.

45jermynst.com

Barre & brunch

GIN CLASS NO 97

ORRERY

FRENCHIE

If your dream weekend consists of a barre class followed by brunch, then you're in luck. Orrey have teamed up with Xtend to offer guests an hour-long class at the boutique fitness studio where they will be guided by founder Catie Miller. Post workout, it’s a short walk to Orrery, to enjoy a brunch carefully curated by Chef Patron Igor Tymchyschyn.

55 Marylebone High St, Marylebone W1U 5RB orrery-restaurant.co.uk

Celebrate Parisian style at Greg Marchand’s intimate brasserie. The five-course tasting menu created for the evening lends itself perfectly to the romance of the day. For a sweet finish indulge in a special baked Alaska using Guittard chocolate as an indulgent Valentine’s Day treat. frenchiecoventgarden.com

Head to this neighbourhood restaurant on 18 February for an intimate, immersive dining experience of a seven course tasting menu.

On 19 February a one hour crash course in all things gin is taking place (including tasting).

97 Maple Rd, Surbiton KT6 4AW no-97.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

KINGSTON FOOD NOTES.indd 49

49

22/01/2019 16:23

Butternut curry with spinach and cashews Colourful, fragrant, and full of texture, this dish shows you don’t need meat to make a good curry. Lentils, chickpeas, and nuts add protein to the melting pot of vegetables and spices for a healthy, balanced meal.

INGREDIENTS •medium butternut squash, about 21⁄4lb (1kg) • 1 onion • 4 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil • 1 tbsp butter • 2 cloves garlic • 1 thumb-sized piece fresh ginger • 1 small hot green chile • 1 tsp ground turmeric • 1 tsp cumin seeds • 1 tsp ground coriander • 2 cinnamon sticks • 1 tbsp freeze-dried curry leaves (optional) • 1⁄2 cup (100 g) red lentils • 3 or 4 ripe tomatoes • 1 (14-oz/400-g) can chickpeas, drained • 3⁄4 cup (100 g) cashew nuts • 2 large handfuls baby leaf spinach • salt and pepper

METHOD 1 Peel the squash and cut into 4 pieces.

Scoop out the seeds. Cut the flesh into large cubes about 3cm across.

2 Halve and slice the onion. Put a large frying pan, or wok over medium-high heat. Add the oil and butter, wait for 30 seconds, then add the squash and onions, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables are starting to soften.

Simple &

CLASSIC Well-explained and reliable recipes for cooking perfection Wo r d s J A N E H O R N B Y

3 Thinly slice the garlic and finely grate the ginger. Slit the chile, without cutting through the stem (stalk) end.

4 Boil a saucepan of water. Stir the garlic, ginger, chile, spices, and curry leaves into the pan and cook for 2 minutes, until fragrant.

5 Stir in the lentils, then pour in 400 ml boiling water. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring a few times. Preheat the oven to 180°C and coarsely chop the tomatoes.

6 Stir the tomatoes in with the chickpeas, then simmer for another 10 minutes Season the curry with salt and pepper.

7 Sprinkle the nuts over a baking sheet and roast them in the oven for 5 minutes.

8 Stir in the spinach leaves and sprinkle the nuts over the top. Serve with chapatis, naan breads, or rice and your favorite relish or chutney.

50

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

Abs_Feb19_Recipes_3pp_USE.indd 50

22/01/2019 15:43

FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

Shrimp Pad Thai Give tofu a try in this quick Thai café classic. Leftover cold roast chicken could be added to the noodles, too.

INGREDIENTS • 14 oz (400 g) wide rice noodles • 1 (9-oz/250-g) pack firm tofu, drained • 3 cloves garlic, crushed • 1 bunch spring onions • 1 small bunch fresh coriander • 1 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil • 3 tbsp tamarind paste (optional) • 3 tbsp sweet chili sauce • 3 tbsp nam pla (Thai fish sauce) • 11⁄2 tbsp sugar • 1 handful roasted peanuts (optional) • 4 large (UK medium) eggs • 200 g (7 oz) uncooked large shrimp (prawns), shelled and deveined • 1⁄2 tsp dried chili flakes (or more if you like) • 2 limes

METHOD 1 1 cup (100 g) bean sprouts Boil a saucepan or kettle of water. Put the noodles into a large heatproof bowl, then

pour over enough just-boiled water to cover. Stir gently and let soak until you get to step 8.

chili flakes, and half the scallions. Cook for a few seconds, stirring, until the garlic and scallions smell fragrant.

2 While you wait, cut the tofu into cubes about 3⁄4 inch (2 cm) across. Crush the garlic and thinly slice the scallions (spring onions). Pick the leaves from the cilantro (coriander).

6 Transfer the shrimp to a plate, then add the beaten eggs to the pan. Cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, moving the eggs around the pan a little with a wooden spoon until just set, like an omelet.

3 Put a large nonstick skillet, frying pan, or wok over medium-high heat. Add the oil, then the tofu. Fry for 6 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the tofu is golden all over. Lift the tofu onto paper (kitchen) towels using a slotted spoon.

This will absorb any excess oil.

7 Lift the omelet out of the pan and transfer it to a cutting board. Roll it up like a pancake, then cut across the roll to make long thin strips. Take the pan off the heat if you feel you need to concentrate on this part.

4

Meanwhile, put the tamarind paste, chili sauce, nam pla (Thai fish sauce), and sugar into a small pitcher (jug) and stir together. Coarsely chop the peanuts, if using. Crack the eggs into a bowl and loosely beat them with a fork.

5

Put the pan back over high heat. It shouldn’t need more oil. Add the shrimp (prawns) and fry for 2 minutes, until they turn completely pink. Now add the garlic,

8 Return the pan to the heat, drain the noodles, and add them to the pan. Add the sauce, most of the cilantro leaves, the shredded egg, tofu, shrimp, the remaining scallions, and a squeeze of lime juice, then toss well.

9 For an authentic look, serve the peanuts and bean sprouts in little piles alongside the noodles, then sprinkle with the rest of the cilantro. Cut the remaining lime into wedges and put a wedge on each plate.

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Abs_Feb19_Recipes_3pp_USE.indd 51

51

22/01/2019 15:44

CUTLASS.indd 2 WHITLEYNEILL-range_297-210.indd 1

22/11/2018 12/11/2018 14:57 14:13

FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

There’s no secret –all that’s needed is the patience to wait 5 Spoon the hoisin sauce into a serving dish. Serve the sauce, shredded duck, sliced cucumber, scallions, and pancakes separately and let everyone assemble their own. To assemble, spoon about 1 teaspoon of hoisin sauce onto a pancake, then spread it out with the back of the spoon. Arrange a couple of sticks of cucumber, a few shreds of scallion, and a little duck in a line across the middle of the pancake. To roll, tuck the bottom of the pancake up, then roll the sides over, leaving the top open.

TIP

CHINESE PANCAKES

Crispy duck pancakes There’s no secret to making this classic Chinese dish—all that’s needed is the patience to wait while the duck slowly cooks to crisp, melting perfection.

INGREDIENTS • 2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder • 2 tsp salt • 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper • 4 duck legs • 1 large cucumber • 2 bunches scallions (spring onions) • 24 Chinese pancakes • 1⁄2 cup (120 ml) hoisin sauce

METHOD 1 Preheat the oven to 325°F/160°C/ Gas Mark 3. Mix the five-spice powder with the salt and pepper. Put the duck legs into a roasting pan. Rub the duck legs all over with the salty spice.

2 Roast the duck for 11⁄2 hours, or until the skin is dark golden and crisp and the meat is tender. The fat will have run out of the skin. A convection or fan-assisted oven will give a really crisp result, so if you have the option, use a convection oven, not forgetting to reduce the temperature by 25°F/20°C.

If you can’t find thin Chinese pancakes in the store, try flour tortillas instead. Chinese pancakes are also made with flour, so the flavour is similar. If the tortillas are larger, cut them in half and wrap around the filling in a cone shape instead of a roll.

3 Meanwhile, cut the cucumber into thin sticks and trim, then finely shred the scallions (spring onions). Cutting the scallions into thin strips can be difficult, so slice into rounds if preferred.

4 When the duck is cooked, cover the pancakes with aluminum foil and put into the oven for 10 minutes to warm through (or follow the package instructions). Use 2 forks to pull the duck flesh and skin away from the bones. They should come away from the bones very easily. Keep the duck warm on a plate in the oven. Don’t cover it with foil, or the skin will lose its crispness.

SIMPLE & CLASSIC 123 Step-by-Step Recipes by Jane Hornby is published by Phaidon phaidom.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Abs_Feb19_Recipes_3pp_USE.indd 53

53

22/01/2019 15:44

Set in the charming heart of Dorking, nestled between the North Downs and gentle slopes of the Denbies Estate and Vineyards, The White Horse stands as one of England’s most storied coaching inns, with a history dating back as far as 1278.

The property has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment and overhaul of both the public spaces, dining concept, and 56 bedrooms. Offering stylish accommodation, a destination restaurant, as well as an all-new bar and deli concept, The Dozen, specialising in local Surrey produce.

In other words, plenty to get your teeth into‌

01306 881138 The White Horse Hotel, High Street, Dorking, Surrey, United Kingdom RH4 1BE info@whitehorsedorking.com | www.whitehorsedorking.com

WHITE HORSE.indd 2

17/12/2018 14:01

FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW

ABSOLUTELY eats out…

“The fish melts into the vibrant, warming coconut curry”

Kricket

Creative, Indian small plates that eschew authenticity in favour of exceptional flavour and culinary flair

FOOD Innovative Indianinspired sharing plates

B y H E L E N B R OW N

W

hen you start out life in one of south London’s most celebrated culinary hotspots, you can only expect things to go one way. It was around two years ago that Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell opened Kricket in a tiny shipping container at Pop Brixton and since have gone on to open two permanent sites, one in Soho and the latest in White City.

This third Kricket is roomy enough for 100-plus covers, a cocktail bar and counter dining, without losing the bustling atmosphere that diners come to expect from the name. The menu is no bigger but quite different

DECOR to those of its sister sites with more focus on larger plates. We begin with the Keralan fried chicken with curry leaf mayonnaise which will be familiar to long-standing Kricketgoers and certainly lives up to the hype, followed by a generous bowl of crispy samphire pakoras. Though the simplest in its execution, this dish is an absolute knockout. The pakoras are crisp and salty until you get a big tangled forkful of them clumped together with a jammy tamarind dressing and they become saccharine and succulent. Utterly addictive.

Next we go for a new addition to the menu: chunky curls of pumpkin are roasted until soft, sweet and charred, before being placed on a velvety bed

Grand and airy with industrial touches

PRICE Small plates from £6, larger plates from £12

of thick makhani sauce and crumbled paneer. A scattering of hazelnuts and puffed rice deliver bite, resulting in a dish that is well-balanced in texture and rich and comforting in taste. With this arrives the Cornish cod in a Malabar sauce, finished with langoustine oil, kokum and fennel. By plating sauce first and then the cod, the chef has been careful to ensure that its crispy skin remains just that. The rest of the fish melts into the vibrant coconut curry which is warming without being hot, luscious and thick with softened onions.

Dessert is a piece of magic. On the waiter’s recommendation we go for the gulab jamun - a dense and syrupy deep-fried cake that is matched with carom seed crumble and milk ice cream. This is an exercise in flavour balancing; the cake sweet, the crumble savoury and the ice cream tangy. It all comes together in perfect harmony and leaves us marvelling at the creativity of the evening. They say all good things come in threes and this is certainly true of Kricket.

We’ll be first in line for the fourth.

VERDICT

KRICKET TELEVISION CENTRE

Exuberant dining full of creativity and flair

2 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, W12;

kricket.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Kingston_Feb19_FOOD REVIEW .indd 55

55

22/01/2019 15:45

CUTLASS.indd 3

22/11/2018 14:57

FOOD & DRINK • NOTES

DRINKS CABINET

What to drink and how to drink it

fabulous

FIZZ

By PENDLE HARTE

GIN PALACE

THREE OF THE BEST PINK CHAMPAGNES B y T H E C H A M PAG N E G U R U

M A N C H E ST E R G I N

Along with Dandelion and Burdock Root, Manchester's award-winning signature gin is made up of ten other specially sourced botanicals including orange and lemon, liquorice and ground almond. There's also a delicious raspberryinfused version in pink. manchestergin.co.uk

Bruno Michel champagne This deliciously fresh Champagne perfectly expresses its complexity on the palate as an outstanding organic cuvée, loved not only for its elegant ruby colour but also for its beautiful, full aromas with hints of strawberry, redcurrant, cherry and raspberry.

Charles Heidsieck Rose Reserve N.V This stylish and powerful Rosé Réserve Champagne, full-bodied in the Charles Heidsieck style, retains an elegance that makes this a delicious drink. Alongside the rich smoothness there are aromas of strawberry, pomegranate, wild rose and apple blossom.

VIVA ITALIA F R A N C I AC O R TA

Less well-known than Prosecco is Franciacorta, the Italian fizz from Lombardy that's vastly superior to its more popular sibling. Made in the traditional method, Franciacorta's Ferghettina Rose is fruity and light with notes of cherry. £26.95;

De Venoge Louis XV Rose Millesime 2006 Champagne

ndjohn.co.uk

SPIRIT OF LOVE CÎROC

CÎROC invites you to add a little extra to your Valentine’s celebrations this year with a CÎROC Vodka limited-edition design for the big day. The design is available in CÎROC Red Berry which oozes aromatic fresh berry flavours with a smooth and silky finish. £45 getitinkd.com

This vintage rose Champagne is full of vibrant red currant and wild berry flavours.

Cherries and almonds emerge in the aftertaste making it a delightfully structured champagne from the Grand Cru region.

THE CHAMPAGNE GURU The Champagne Guru is a champagne and food pairing expert, specialising in hosting special champagne events in luxurious surroundings.

thechampagneguru.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

WEST_Feb19_Drinks.indd 57

57

22/01/2019 11:44

Photography by Paul Craig

Engineered Walnut Pre-lacquered

Beautiful flooring, designed to last Over 100 designs | Expert advice | 20,000m 2 of stock | Express delivery SHOWROOM 20 Smugglers Way, Wandsworth, London, SW18 1EG 020 8871 9771

w w w.naturalwoodfloor.co.uk

NWF.indd 1

20/08/2018 13:09

INTERIORS

MODERN LOVE MINI MODERNS

Mini Moderns’ new wallpaper collection, Culture! draws on the design duo’s love of mid-century art design and architecture. Pictured is Lucky Lantern, a Chinese lantern design, inspired by the Eastern styles prevalent in the aesthetic movement as displayed in the Geffrye Museum’s 1890 drawing room. minimoderns.com

A Plain English kitchen 63 • Yoko Kloeden 67 • Mobile mania 68 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Feb19_INTERIORS OPENER.indd 59

59

22/01/2019 15:48

INTERIORS NOTES

Ideas, designs and styles for your home

By PENDLE HARTE

M ATC H UPS IITTALA

Iittala's Raami is a new tableware collection designed by Jasper Morrison.The carefully composed pieces in ceramic, glass and wood are intended to work together to promote a good atmosphere at the table. iittala.com

IN SHAPE EMMA LACEY

Emma Lacey designs and makes ceramic tableware from her studio in North London. Most work is currently hand thrown using a fine stoneware clay and then assembled, manipulated or finished to take into account the tactility and function of the piece. conranshop.co.uk

60

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

ABS_Feb19_Interiors_Notes.indd 60

22/01/2019 11:47

INTERIORS • NOTES

TOP PA S T E L S A selection of our favourite pieces EDITOR’S PICK

SCHNEID STUDIO Eikon Shell lamp, £326 connox.co.uk

GOOD CUP

THE GLAZE

OLIVER BONAS

MILO MADE CERAMIC S

This large sculptural ceramic jug with a circular black handle detail and a white glazed inner and unglazed outer design is designed and made by Hackney's Milo Made Ceramics and stocked at nearby A New Tribe, £120 anewtribe.co.uk

GOOD DESIGN WORKS Concrete desk clock, £25 hurnandhurn.com

Highstreet staple OLiver Bonas is currently stocking a beautiful collection of ceramics and tableware. We love the Tarina blue pieces for their stylish curves and bautiful packaging. oliverbonas.com

WALL SAUCE Pastel wallpaper mural, £26 per m2 wallsauce.com

DANETTI Senn chair, £39 danetti.com

PLANT LIFE ALBERT & MOO Memphis plant pot, £11 albertandmoo.com

LAPUAN KANKURIT

SUE PARKINSON

Artificial houseplants are a huge trend right now and Sue Parkinson's assorted green succulents is an attractive and entirely maintenance-free addition to any window ledge or shelf. sue-parkinson.con

Sade print towel, £53 lapuankankurit.fi

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_Feb19_Interiors_Notes.indd 61

61

22/01/2019 11:47

RENOVATION RESTORATION

NEW BUILD REPLACEMENT

Slimline Metal Windows & Doors

THE EXPERTS IN TIMBER WINDOWS AND DOORS

The slimmest thermally broken ‘A+10 rated’ metal windows and doors available • • • •

Handmade by our skilled craftsmen A+10 rated and Part L compliant Part Q/PAS 24 compliant options Polyester powder coated finish including hammerite and dual colour options • Multipoint locking and Welded corners as standard • Beautiful leaded lights, Georgian pane, Horizontal bar designs • Can be installed direct to brick, stone or wood surrounds

01730 89 47 45 info@metthermwindows.co.uk facebook.com/MetThermWindows www.metthermwindows.co.uk

MTW.indd 1

22/01/2019 15:26

AV N O W A I N I LA B LO N O RT L E ND H ON

Established in 1994

WORKSHOPS Creative Writing

Handwriting Exam Preparation Mock Exams

Interview Skills Reasoning

01344 868 668 www.sashwindow.com CONTACT US 0207 731 0695 www.yellowbirdeducation.com

• KINGSTON_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 2

SWW.indd 1

11/12/2018 15:43 11:40 22/01/2019

INTERIORS • KITCHENS

Colour

CODE Absolutely admires the bright shades in Plain English’s newest kitchen project Wo r d s E V E H E R B E R T

P

lain English was conceived by accident 25 years ago when Katie Fontana and her husband Tony Niblock swapped life in the capital for a rural idyll in Suffolk. “We decided to move to Suffolk and take the time out to build our own house, so it was an interesting year of living in a caravan. When it came to the kitchen, I assumed that I’d be able to find something and just buy it. But there was nothing I liked. Everything had twiddly bits or was too look-at-me flashy. In the end I found a local joiner and we did it ourselves.”

That might have been the end of the story had it not been for the nudge from a friend to enter the house into a Telegraph competition for the best self-build house in the country. “We came runner up and were later featured in a magazine. People kept calling to ask where we’d got our kitchen. So without thinking things began to take shape.

Plain English is the cognoscenti’s favourite for its honest craftsmanship

I was quite resistant at first; to me, as an interior designer, just doing kitchens seemed quite limited, but Tony insisted.”

Twenty-five years on, Plain English is still the cognoscenti’s favourite, its incomparable honest craftsmanship and its spare simplicity outstripping other, slicker, contenders.

Plain English Kitchens are so versatile, as at home in country homes as they are in more urban settings. “I think it’s because we’re selling good, honest, non-branded cupboards, so you can dress them up or down. I am very anti-ostentation and I hate this obsession with logos emblazoned everywhere. Historically, kitchens were just functional, which is why I’ve always liked the below-stairs kitchen quarters of stately homes. Ultimately, I like the elemental things in life: marble, slate, wood. I think subconsciously it’s all about stuff that will stand the test of time.” On Fontana’s watch, the likes of pantries and sculleries are afforded their place once more, rescued from the wasteland of upstairs-downstairs period dramas. “In the 1960s, everyone wanted to be so modern and get rid of the larder and you can understand it. They’d all been to the Ideal Home Show! But it’s like a pendulum swinging, now we’re seeing the value in those rooms again.”

This brightly coloured kitchen features handcrafted Plain English Spitalfields cupboards with a contemporary Osea island and theatrical woven lighting taking centre stage. The open plan space is perfect for cooking, entertaining and family life.

Cupboards are painted in a variety of bright and bold Plain English colours: Starched Apron, Boiled Dishcloth and Pretty Pickle. plainenglishdesign.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

WEST_Feb19_PLAIN ENGLISH.indd 63

63

22/01/2019 11:48

P R I VAT E l i v e s Everyone has their dream space in this London house designed by Yoko Kloeden

By EVE HERBERT

64

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

ABS_Feb19_YOKO KLOEDEN.indd 64

22/01/2019 11:50

INTERIORS • HOUSE TOUR

Y

oko Kloeden Design has recently completed the interior design and decoration of a 1930s three-story terrace house in southwest London.

The clients, a couple who both work in finance with two young children, completed a major house renovation including the ground floor rear extension and loft conversion when they moved into the house; however, having moved from a one-bed flat and both working full-time, they still didn’t feel at home a year later as most of the rooms were still bare and underused. After having interviewed five interior designers, the couple engaged Yoko and her team. The brief was to pull the family together in the open-plan family area, while the husband and wife each have a break-out room that reflects their individual needs and personalities.

Yoko and her team used colours and textures to express each individual’s style while giving a practical solution for the young family. The result is an elegant and contemporary family home that still feels comfortable and practical while everyone has a space of privacy and aspiration .

‘Knowing that our clients now have a home they will enjoy for decades to come keeps us going every day‘, says Yoko.

The clients embraced dark and moody colours and their bold choice of colours starts with the hallway. With the inky blue colour as a background, Yoko selected an abstract landscape painting that reflects the clients’ love of nature but in a contemporary and stylized expression. Slender frames and legs of powder-coated steel furniture give a chic and airy appearance.

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_Feb19_YOKO KLOEDEN.indd 65

65

22/01/2019 11:50

66

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

ABS_Feb19_YOKO KLOEDEN.indd 66

22/01/2019 11:50

INTERIORS • HOUSE TOUR The bespoke kitchen from Wooden Horse London was designed to fit the space with lots of storage. A marble island takes centre stage and plain white surfaces were chosen for other cabinets and worktop to let the island stand out. The dining table and chairs sit at the centre of the open-plan area and they had to be elegant, understated, and unique. A bespoke live edge oak dining table with classic Wishbone chairs demonstrates the philosophy of using real materials and understated elegance.

The family includes two children under three, so the space had to be practical and safe without compromising on sophisticated aesthetics. Yoko schemed the area around two key features – a framed artwork of bespoke wallpaper from Calico Wallpaper and a bespoke media unit made of black stained oak with brass detailing. She says: ‘In Japan, we have a culture of developing taste buds at a very early age. The concept of kids menus in restaurants is nowhere as ubiquitous as here in the UK as people believe babies and toddlers need to eat real foods that adults eat. In the same way, children need to grow up with real materials to develop their senses. Family rooms shouldn’t be all about wipeable surfaces.’’

The bespoke rug is made of soft jute that is hardwearing but soft to crawl on. Coffee tables of different sizes are made of mango wood. Yoko’s team designed a media unit that consists of low units to store children’s books and toys and a slim tall unit to store files etc.

The starting point of for the reception room, also as known as ‘Her Room’, was an Art Deco-inspired drinks cabinet bought by

the client at the beginning of the project.

This is her grown-up haven where she winds down with a glass of wine after the children are finally asleep, where she entertains her friends on weekends and during her maternity leave.

Yoko custom-made a Millennial pink velvet sofa and selected an artwork from a Sydney-based British artist Caroline Collom to anchor the colour palette. The team filled the room with sumptuous, tactile and real materials such as marble, brass, steel, velvet, wool and sourced indoor plants to liven up the room.

‘His Room’ is referred to as the ‘games room’ and this is where her husband winds down by playing a computer game at the end of his long day at his demanding job in finance. Originally a garage, it is the smallest living room and he opted for the darkest shade of grey to feel cozy and cocooned as he uses ‘His Room’ mostly in the evenings. A Fornasetti mural makes a perfect backdrop and the rich moss green of the velvet sofa pops against the dark walls.

The newly converted loft houses a master bedroom with an ensuite shower room.

The wall behind the bed hides a walk-in wardrobe and dressing table.

Here again, the inky blue was chosen for the calm and serene haven. Dreamy white waves and a dawn sky of a photography art shot on a remote beach in Iceland sums up the mood. The alcove above the bed is a practical alternative to a pair of bedside tables in this tight space.

Children need to grow up with real materials to develop their senses.

Family rooms shouldn’t be all about wipeable surfaces

yokokloeden.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_Feb19_YOKO KLOEDEN.indd 67

67

22/01/2019 11:51

INTERIORS • MOBILES

1

1

RHYTHMIC F LOW FLENSTED

In production since 1955, Christian Flensted's iconic Flowing Rhythm mobile is red on one side and black on the other.

Its interplay of shape and colour in movement is hypnotic and relaxing to watch – and it casts an intriguing shadow too. £37

T H E H A N G O F I T

skandium.com

2

GO FISH FELI X SA LUT

Floats is a bright and colourful hanging structure that repurposes fishing floats and string to create a geometric modernist aesthetic — echoing Oscar Schlemmer’s Bauhaus dance performance, The Triadic Ballet. €225 felixsalut.com

MOBILES ARE HAVING A MOMENT. HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST MESMERISING

3

A R T I N M OT I O N

2

VO LTA

3

Handcrafted in small quantities and inspired by the abstract art of the 1950s and Scandinavian design, the Volta Le Grand Etourdi Mobile has a beautifully balanced design with a vibrant primary colourway. Volta was founded in Paris and now creates all its elegant mobiles in Barcelona. £275 conranshop.co.uk

4

L I G H T WO R K

THE SHOP FLOOR PROJECT

5

Hand crafted in Germany, each Shop Floor Project mobile is made with skill and precision to create just the right balance between the shapes and light.

Mobile No 1: Morning Light is hand-made in polished brass with iron arms. £325 theshopfloorproject.com

5

LINE SHEET NEDGIS

4 68

Michael Anastassiades' sumptuous Chandelier 9 mobile is signed by the Cypriot designer. Its minimalist design and graphic and uncluttered forms create lines in the air with several sources of warm light and diffusers in opaline blown glass. €18,384 nedgis.com

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

HOME_Jan19_MOBILES.indd 68

22/01/2019 15:54

RD.indd 1

22/01/2019 12:05

70

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

ABS_Feb19_LARA FULMINE.indd 70

22/01/2019 11:55

M

A

L

L

T

A

L

K

INTERIORS • FOCUS

IN A NEW BOOK ON LIVING IN SMALL SPACES, STYLISH LAURA FULMINE SHOWS OFF HER COLOURFUL YET DIMINUTIVE EAST LONDON FLAT

ive in a small apartment but love color? Take inspiration from interior designer and stylist Laura Fulmine, who used an expertly executed palette of rich shades to define the different areas of her 57 m2 (614 ft2) apartment, which is located in a turn-of-the-century mansion block in east London.

“Creating different identities for each room makes the flat feel like a much bigger space,” explains Fulmine, who lived in the apartment for two years before decorating it and let the trajectory of the sun inform the colors she chose. Now, a luxurious green provides the backdrop for a mix of collected treasures in the living room, while the cheerful study is painted in a heritage pink. The bedroom, which gets the least light, features a restful dark blue, while the bathroom and kitchen are bright white to make the most of the morning sun.

L

S

P E T I T E P L AC E S Clever Interiors for Humble Homes edited by Robert Klanten, published by Gestalten

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_Feb19_LARA FULMINE.indd 71

71

22/01/2019 11:56

Carpets so good you won’t want to walk on them

ORDER YOUR NEW CARPET NOW! • Free measuring and estimating service • 100’s of carpets & rugs to choose from • Amtico and Karndean specialists • Many more types of Wood and Vinyl flooring available

Book an estimate and automatically get 15% off when you place an order.* *Mention Absolutely Magazine to qualify for the discount.

Valid until 28th February 2019. Terms & Conditions apply.

• We will beat any written like for like quote Find us on

Facebook

Chessington 020 8397 1092

CARPETS_FULL PAGE.indd 1

Surbiton 020 8390 0839

Raynes Park 020 8942 4999

23/01/2019 14:04

INTERIORS • MOODBOARD

My Style ZO E A N D E RS O N , FOUNDER O F S H O R E D I TC H I N T E R I O R S B O U T I Q U E WA G R E E N wagreen.co.uk

MY FAVOURITE PIECE OF ART… For scale and colour The Snail

by Henri Matisse – if I ever need a pick me up I’ll nip into the Tate Modern to say hi to it. It always restores me.

MY FAVOURITE DESIGNER… Don’t make me pick! Tina Vaia is pretty special. She makes huge planters. She has a really refined understanding of colour and combined with the scale of her pieces this makes her work interesting.

MY SIGNATURE SCENT…

M Y ST Y L E IC ON...

CO Elizabeth Taylor in her kaftan era.

Byredo Oud Immortel is my current obsession. It’s a great scent for the winter as it reminds me of hot summer nights. Abd El Kader by Cire Trudon is my go-to year round scent in the home. We spray the room spray in the store and the beautiful smell lasts all day. If I have a party I’ll spritz the whole house in it. For the depth of winter you can’t beat Ernesto by Cire Trudon.

MY FAVOURITE PIECE FROM MY CURRENT COLLECTION… Obviously, I love everything but I think it has to be the new Utopia Hip Hop Jars by Jonathan Adler.

They are such fun pieces and would look incredible absolutely anywhere in the house.

MY FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION IS… California. The coastline is stunning and Palm Springs in the desert is just so much fun.

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Feb19_MOODBOARD.indd 73

73

22/01/2019 11:57

MARYMOUNT.indd 1

18/01/2019 09:05

KIDS & EDUCATION

ANIMAL MAGIC FERM LIVING

Ferm Living's new kids' collection features London-based, internationally renowned illustrator Katie Scott. In her wallpaper collection she explores the balance of wildlife and nature in her three designs: Shells, Trees, and Animals. fermliving.com

Small Talk 77 ¡ Education 79 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Feb19_Kids_Opener2.indd 75

75

22/01/2019 15:56

2019 Open Mornings 5th Feb | 19th Mar | 30th Apr Our children strive to achieve their academic potential, expand their sense of curiosity, understand the importance of perseverance, critical thinking, objectivity and reflection.

www.cumnorhouse.com

Leading single - sex preparatory education in South West London since 1931

CUMNOR.indd 1

10/12/2018 14:18

KIDS & EDUCATION • NOTES S H OW P R EV I EW

PACK UP AWAY

Away's brilliant wheelie cases are some of the best on the market – strong, easy to manoeuvre, full of clever interior details and even nice to look at. And best of all, there's a special kids version of the Carry On, which comes in a variety of colours with a shorter handle and a built-in charger for their inevitable devices. awaytravel.com

SMALL TALK Cases for tots, Berlin fashion, book reviews and lots of Lego

ECO CHIC MONKIND

Ask the husband and wife duo behind Berlin-based brand MONKIND what inspired them to launch their own clothing label and they’ll tell you that they wanted to prove that sustainability can be stylish.

Mostly made from GOTS certified organic cotton, we love the simple shapes, muted colour palette and design-led prints. monkind.com

BRICK WONDERS

O

pening at the Horniman Museum this month is Brick Wonders, an interactive exhibition of Lego structures.

Incorporating 500,000 bricks, the creations include amazing wonders from around the world, from an ancient Egyptian pyramid to Old London Bridge and from the natural wonder of a coral reef to the modern marvel of the international space station. More than 50 models will be on show, from individual pieces that will inspire visitors to build them at home, to awe-inspiring dioramas and mosaics. Visitors can build their own brick wonders in interactive play areas – including a graffiti wall, a tower-building challenge, a magnetic mosaic puzzle and big bricks for little hands – and the exhibition includes a mini-cinema showing short Lego animations.

 Brick Wonders runs from 16 February to 27 October at the Horniman Museum, 100 London Road SE23; horniman.ac.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

PUPPY LOVE

FEEL IT

T H E D O G W H O S AV E D

B OY U N D E R WAT E R

T H E WO R L D

By Adam Baron

Ross Welford’s fourth novel takes an astonishing sci-fi concept and explores how it might actually work in the ordinary world. It's an exciting read for anyone aged 10+. £6.99;

Why won't Cymbeline's mum let him go swimming? Something has happened in the past but what is it? This award-winning book for ages 10+ takes a sad story and makes it entertaining, funny and charming. £6.99;

 harpercollins.co.uk

 harpercollins.co.uk

By Ross Welford

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_FEB19_Kids_Notes_Single right.indd 77

77

22/01/2019 12:08

Mayfield B OARDI NG & DAY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 1 1 TO 1 8

OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC RESULTS • SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE EXTENSIVE CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME EXEMPLARY PASTORAL CARE & NURTURING ENVIRONMENT SET IN THE BEAUTIFUL SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE FLEXI, WEEKLY AND FULL BOARDING OPTIONS WEEKEND RETURN BUS TO LONDON MINIBUS SERVICE ACROSS SUSSEX AND KENT

Open Mornings

FRIDAY 22 ND MARCH 2019 TUESDAY 30 TH APRIL 2019

TO ARRANGE A VISIT PLEASE CONTACT OUR REGISTRAR, MRS SHIRLEY COPPARD, REGISTRAR@MAYFIELDGIRLS.ORG

WWW.MAYFIELDGIRLS.ORG

MAYFIELD.indd 1 re-size 10th Secember 2018 210x297mm.indd 1 MAY_TDA32937 Ad

17/12/2018 10/12/2018 17:48 14:03

EDUCATION • OPINION

MARKET FORCES Adam Pettitt, Head of Highgate School, unravels the unconditional offers ‘controversy’

I

’m nervous about trenchancy when it comes to something that hasn’t affected my school or pupils. With only one pupil in the last three years having accepted an unconditional offer (Nottingham), it’s not an issue I am qualified to thunder about.

I am, however, worried about what unconditional offers tell us about the relationship between schools and universities, between funded and funders.

So, first of all, I ask myself whether sixth formers’ needs are the reason for unconditional offers, and I have to conclude that it’s the need for universities to fill places that leads them to offer guaranteed places regardless of grades, provided the applicant accepts the place as their first choice. It’s a commercial response to regulatory change (now that Government no longer foots the

bill for tuition, universities are at liberty to take as many students as they can find).

But just as universities react to circumstances beyond their control, so do sixth formers and, faced with unconditional offers from some universities and not from others, they are, we hear, accepting places with less regard to what is the best course for them. Relieved of the pressure (or motivation) to meet offer requirements by working hard throughout Year 13, they are tempted to coast through a final year, ending up with lower grades and, crucially, less knowledge and less academic grit to equip them for their undergraduate course.

Which group of sixth formers is being targeted with unconditional offers? My experience is that the most confident, the most experienced and the ablest, are treating unconditional offers

“The temptation is to coast through their final year and end up with lower grades and less knowledge”

SIXTHFORMERS AT HIGHGATE SCHOOL

with suspicion: they get a whiff of desperation in tactics they associate with panic discounting before Christmas rather than with considered decisions about their futures. It’s difficult not to imagine the least well-informed, the less confident or the most tentative applicants opting for certainty when the system is designed to allow them flexibility and choice, albeit with parameters – after all, they are only able to apply for five courses.

The system is throwing up alternative (sharp?) practices: some universities advertise one grade tariff, and offer to lower it if they are made a candidate’s first choice.

Surely that too is a commercial response which will tempt sixth formers to opt for courses they haven’t weighed up. Grade inflation in degree classifications suggests that universities need to tempt students in with promises of higher numbers of firsts. Universities have their own list of schools’ sharp practices, of course: grade predictions reveal that on average each applicant’s prediction is two grades north of their August results.

Now the market is allowed to determine how many students a university can admit, there’s a need for a new rule book to make educational and pastoral sense of commercial innovation in university admissions. My hunch is that unconditional offers shouldn’t be in the gift of a university without very specific reasons and a strong social mobility rationale: if unconditional offers can play a part in solving the real problems facing universities in encouraging applications from all kinds of schools, so be it, but they can otherwise have no place in a largely unregulated system. Clear sky, rather than thunder.

ADAM PETTITT Head Highgate School

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Feb19_ EDUCATION.indd 79

79

22/01/2019 15:57

Save 60% at Dubai’s #1 All-Inclusive 5 JA Palm Tree Court

JA Palm Tree Court is one of the best places to go all-inclusive in Dubai. This fabulous five-star hotel offers the widest range of onsite activities in the emirate. ✓ 9-hole golf course, spa, fitness centre, 4 swimming pools, horse riding, kids club, private beach and water sports included ✓ Dine-around at 14 restaurants and bars without restrictions ✓ Easy access to Dubai’s main attractions

SAVE 60% 5 Nights All Inclusive from

£975pp

Call 0208 329 2679 or book online letsgo2.com Prices are per person based on two people sharing and include return flights. Available on various departures between 1 - 30 June 2019. Subject to availability. For full T&Cs visit letsgo2.com. Prices correct as of 21/01/2019.

LG2.indd 1

TRUSTED MERCHANT 2018

21/01/2019 15:33

TRAVEL

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE AUSTRIA

For something active and uplifting, the Tyrol region in Austria is one of the best holiday destinations for families with kids. Absolutely takes a trip to the mountains.

Austria: Summer in the mountains 82 • Weekend Getaway: Dublin 89 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_Feb19_Travel_Opener.indd 81

81

22/01/2019 16:00

Nowhere apart from Sรถlden has a special Bond museum built at 3,000 metres 82

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

ABS_Jan19_TRAVEL - AUSTRIA.indd 82

22/01/2019 12:10

TRAVEL • EUROPE

Mountain

HI G H There are few places more beautiful – or more fun – than the Austrian Tyrol in summer. Absolutely takes the family to the mountains Wo r d s P E N D L E H A R T E

W

hen I tell my Austrian friend proudly that we’re going to the place where they filmed James Bond, I’m expecting her to know exactly where I mean. She doesn’t: “Oh they filmed Bond all over the place.” It’s true that a lot of Austrian ski resorts show off about their 007 connections, but nowhere apart from Sölden has a special Bond museum built at 3,000 metres at the exact location of much of the action in Spectre. And nowhere else has a glass cube structure at its highest peak, housing a restaurant with a Tom Dixon interior and spectacular 360 degree views. For Austria, Sölden is prime Bond territory.

But that’s not really why we came. Sölden is an alpine resort in the Tyrol’s Otztal Valley, south of Innsbruck and near the Italian border. Nearby Obergurgl is a popular

ski area for British people, but Sölden, home to the skiing World Cup opener, is more popular with Dutch and German skiiers. In the summer it’s quieter but there’s still a lot to be said for it, and not just the low season rates, the vast beauty of the landscape, the clarity of the air and the enormous range of activities.

We are here as a family with two daughters aged 12 and 9 and the family suite at Das Central is perfect: two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a cosy seating area, two balconies. Half-board means breakfast and dinner every day, and they seat you at the same table every time, which instantly makes you feel like a regular. Staff wear traditional dirndls and the buffet breakfasts are as huge and generous as you would imagine. It’s all wooden chaletstyle with a contemporary slant. One of the best things about staying here is that you are automatically issued with a Premium Card for the region, which allows you free or discounted entry to so many things that there’s a weighty booklet to list them all. Ski lifts, swimming pools, mountain bike school, public transport, museums.

We pledge to try everything. On day one we turn up bright and early at Bike Republic, the mountain bike centre where we are introduced to an instructor from the Ride On bike school, who promises that we’ll be speeding down the mountain after a bit of gentle practice on the town’s pump track. Her three-year old daughter can do it, she says. We are confident urban cyclists: we’re sure we’ll be fine. The pump track looks small but quickly it becomes clear that in our family at least, fear levels are directly proportional with age. The nine year-old is entirely comfortable with tight hairpin bends and a tilt that leaves her knee perilously close to the ground, while the adults are significantly less comfortable, and A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_Jan19_TRAVEL - AUSTRIA.indd 83

83

22/01/2019 12:10

maserati.indd 1

23/11/2018 15:36

TRAVEL • EUROPE ICEQ.AT

In our family at least, fear levels are directly proportional with age less nimble. We struggle to get around the track. Still, an hour in and we are ready to take our bikes into the cable car and up: a fortifying plate of dumplings at the middle station’s Tirolerstube prepares us for a steep and bumpy downhill bike ride.

Taking our positions: standing up in the saddle, forefingers only on the brakes, knees bent, we hurtle down the path with varying degrees of confidence at speeds that range

from fast to hypersonic, or at least feel that way. We are proud of ourselves Day two: let’s go to Italy. It’s only about 70km from Sölden to Merano but the drive is likely to take more than two hours over the spectacular Timmelsjoch mountain pass. Open only during the snow-free months between April and October, this is one of the world’s most beautiful roads, twisting and turning to reveal ever-more impressive vistas and countless viewpoint stops. In the light of our mountain biking experience we admire all passing cyclists – the ascent looks calf-wrenchingly impossible, the freewheeling descent terrifying. Despite the intense beauty, it is a long drive, especially when you know that you need to be back before the road closes at 8pm. We drive into beautiful Merano, which is German-speaking despite being well into Italy (the South Tyrol retains a strong Austrian identity that defies the border). Finding a lovely public pool, we spend happy hours on the slides and diving boards, enjoying the views of mountains around us. We drive back before the curfew, happy not to have to tackle the mountainous terrain in the dark.

There’s some rain the next day so we head to the Aqua Dome, a vast indoor and outdoor swimming world that features heated outdoor pools (rain no problem) as well as a saltwater pool, a pool with a strong current, some amazing waterslides (one, a dark hole, even shows a live broadcast of its current inhabitant on a screen) and lots of indoor sun loungers.

But the best watersports activities in the area are to be found at Area 47, a large lake near a rapid river where you can try out all the watersports you’ve ever heard of, as

well as many that you haven’t. So there’s blobbing (hilariously), and canonball, wakeboarding and more slides than we’ve ever seen, some of them improbably high.

There’s a slackline across the lake which we happily fall off repeatedly, a climbing wall from which you can fall into the water and a restaurant terrace allowing great views over everything. We spend the whole morning entering and exiting the water by different means before assembling for our rafting afternoon. We are kitted out in full body wetsuits with boots, hats and life vests and given a detailed introductory talk (the instructor is English; most staff here are students who have found the best summer job ever) and we set off down the river, 12 of us all clinging to our paddles (it's a 50 euro fine for each lost one) and shrieking with laughter as we cascade down the river. It’s the most fun we’ve had as a family in a long time (or certainly since mountain biking).

We were having so much fun that we’d almost forgotten about James Bond. Our last day dawns misty and significantly cooler: we don layers and head up in the high tech gondola all the way to the top. At 3,000 metres the Ice-Q, the glass structure that so impressed Spectre’s location scouts, is impressive and next to it is a new concrete bunker that’s home to the museum. It’s a high tech exhibit focusing on the history of Bond and the creative feats involved in making the films.

Enthusiasts will love it, and it’s accessible for the less obsessed too. So whether you’re a 007 disciple or not, and whether you ski or not, there are many reasons to visit the Otztal.

DA S C E N T R A L H OT E L Das Central Hotel, Sölden, Austria has double rooms available from €153 per person/ per night (summer) and from €200 per person / per night (winter), based on two people sharing on a half board basis. central-soelden.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_Jan19_TRAVEL - AUSTRIA.indd 85

85

22/01/2019 12:11

JUMEIRA.indd 1

14/12/2018 16:15

TRAVEL • PROMOTION

W O R L D

CLASS

EXCEPTIONAL VILLAS The Thinking Traveller’s collection of villas in the heart of the Mediterranean features 5-star oases of fully-serviced luxury, beachfront summer houses, gems of contemporary architecture, sumptuous masserie, chic trulli, romantic retreats, and much more. No property enters the collection until Rossella and Huw have seen it for themselves, and only about 1% of the villas offered to the company make it onto their books.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Discover the exclusive world of The Thinking Traveller

W

hen Huw and Rossella Beaugié founded The Thinking Traveller in 2002, they did so with two clear aims: to offer a luxury experience that can’t be sourced elsewhere, and to inspire their clients to say, “That was the best holiday we’ve ever had. We’ll be back.” Judging by the company’s success – it has been voted Favourite Villa Rental Company four times (including in 2016, 2017 and 2018) at the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards – Huw and Rossella’s innovative approach, based on four guiding principles, is fully achieving its aims.

The Thinking Traveller’s team visit and stay at the company’s properties several times a year, experiencing everything that you’ll experience while you’re on holiday.

The company’s concierges, meanwhile, are true locals who know the destinations inside out. They have all the right connections and a magical ability to make things happen.

You might not need them, but it’s always reassuring to know they’re on hand if you do.

PERSONAL SERVICE The Thinking Traveller’s experts will always go that extra mile to transform your dreams into reality. Excellent listeners, creative thinkers, and resourceful logisticians, they use their first-hand knowledge to give you all the options, suggest possibilities you might not have considered, and conjure up solutions that exceed your brief.

QUALITY THROUGH EXCLUSIVITY Exclusivity is a much misused word in the travel industry. For The Thinking Traveller, it’s a simple concept: the villas are not “shared” with numerous other rental agencies – they are all available exclusively through them. This not only gives clients a truly exclusive experience, but also allows the company to have a hands-on role in quality assurance (something that’s not possible when properties are rented through multiple channels). Exclusivity also allows clients to book online 24/7, whenever it’s most convenient.

T H E T H I N K I N G T R AV E L L E R For more information and to book, visit thethinkingtraveller.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

Abs_Feb19_Thinking Travel ADV.indd 87

87

22/01/2019 12:36

HH.indd 1

14/01/2019 14:47

A

short flight from London, it’s easy to see why Dublin is a popular city break destination. Convenient to get to, compact enough to explore by foot and rich in history, this gregarious city offers its visitors a wealth of attractions including churches, museums, a thriving restaurant scene and over 1,500 bars packed into its snug streets.

Whether you’ve a proclivity for a pint of the black stuff or not, a tour of the Guinness Storehouse is a must. This seven-storey journey begins at the bottom of the world’s biggest pint glass and ends with a perfectly-poured pint in the world-famous rooftop Gravity Bar. We also explore Phoenix Park - one of the world’s largest city parks - take a walk through the Temple Bar district to find great pubs and live music and take a sneak peak around Dublin Castle.

THE HOTEL

I

f impeccable service and being really close to Dublin’s city centre are your top priorities when it comes to accommodation then The Westbury Hotel will be right up your street. Set between Trinity College and St. Stephen’s Green, this 5 star hotel was voted Number 1 Hotel in Ireland at the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2018. On the doorstep lies Grafton Street, revered

for its colour, street artists and luxury shopping, while the vibrant network of streets filled with lively bars, restaurants and independent shops that is Dublin’s Creative Quarter, is just a short stroll away.

The hotel is opulent without being too extravagant; a sense of ease and informality is brought about through stately hues of cream and light grey, wood pillars and swathes of light drawn in from wide bay windows. Rooms are expansive and fitted with a Nespresso coffee machine, Aromatherapy Associates toiletries, crisp linens, a duck down duvet and a wide screen TV.

THE FOOD

T

weekend

THE CITY

DESTINATIONS

TRAVEL • EUROPE

he Westbury's gorgeous gallery - a Dublin institution in itself - serves one of the most decadent afternoon teas you’ll try in a long time. Breakfast is a sunny affair, served from the terrace at Wilde, an attractive space that fuses 1930's elegance with an abundance of greenery.

Come dinner time, Wilde puts traditional dining on its head with a menu that celebrates the finest Irish produce in an exceptional menu of traditional local dishes interspersed with plates from around the world.

THE WESTBURY HOTEL DUBLIN

By H E L E N B R OW N

Exceptional service and understated luxury in the heart of the city THE WESTBURY Rates at The Westbury start from €260 bed and breakfast, based on two adults sharing. doylecollection.com /hotels/the-westbury-hotel

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

ABS_Feb19_UK Getaway.indd 89

89

22/01/2019 12:37

ABELS.indd 1

28/09/2018 09:21

PROPERTY Living the Dream

PARK ROAD KT1

OIEO ÂŁ600,000

94

his three bedroom flat has been beautifully refurbished with underfloor heating, fitted kitchen and a large reception area. The property is located within a gated development, offering a landscaped communal garden and balcony overlooking Hampton Wick. Conveniently close to Kingston Town Centre and Hampton Court Palace with good transport links to Central London.

T

KFH Kingston 020 8939 8191 www.kfh.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

KINGSTON_FEB19_PFC.indd 91

91

22/01/2019 15:50

RICHMOND, TW9 A delightful second floor apartment, set within charming shared gardens beside the river towpath, located 0.5 miles from Richmond Station.

• RECEPTION ROOM • DINING HALL • KITCHEN • 2 DOUBLE BEDROOMS • BATHROOM • GUEST WC • COMMUNAL GARDENS • SHARED PARKING • PORTER • EPC RATING E

RICHMOND

020 8940 6789 richmond@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

Local and National reach through a network of London and Regional offices.

£995,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD

• JS.indd 1

18/01/2019 12:17

WEYBRIDGE, KT13 A detached home of approx. 3,000 sq ft with an adaptable layout, situated in a tree-lined, no through road, between the High Street and Weybridge Station.

• 2 RECEPTION ROOMS • KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM • MASTER BEDROOM WITH DRESSING ROOM AND EN-SUITE • 4 FURTHER BEDROOMS • 2 BATHROOMS • GARAGE • WRAP-AROUND GARDEN • EPC RATING D

WEYBRIDGE

01932 821160 weybridge@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

Local and National reach through a network of London and Regional offices.

£1,325,000 FREEHOLD

• JS.indd 2

18/01/2019 12:18

LIVING THE

DREAM The most luxuriously appointed properties on the market

1

RICHMOND PARK ROAD

WORPLE ROAD

K T 2 , £ 1 ,1 0 0,0 0 0

SW 2 0 , G U I D E £4 ,1 0 0 P C M

charming semi-detached 5-bedroom home which has been extended to the rear to create a modern family space with bi-fold doors opening on to a landscaped garden. Only a 6 minute walk from Kingston station and within the catchment area of a number of “Outstanding” primary and secondary schools, Richmond Park Road remains one of North Kingston’s most popular residential streets.

FEATHERSTONE LEIGH Kingston, 020 8549 9449 featherstoneleigh.co.uk

his is a well presented, modern, semi-detached family house located a short distance from Raynes Park mainline station and its surrounding amenities. The house has been finished to an exceptional standard and comprises a good size reception room at the front of the house, cloakroom, open plan kitchen with skylight and patio doors that overlook the garden.

KNIGHT FRANK Wimbledon, 020 3823 9262 www.knightfrank.co.uk

A

T

1

94

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

LTD_KINGSTON_JFEB19.indd 94

22/01/2019 15:54

PROPERTY • NEW TO THE MARKET

EDGECOOMBE CLOSE KT 2 , G U I D E £ 2 ,9 9 5 ,0 0 0

A

COTTENHAM PARK ROAD

HENLEY DRIVE

KT 2 , G U I D E £ 2 ,1 9 5 ,0 0 0

A

very attractive and well-presented five bedroom detached house in a quiet cul-de-sac. The property has been sympathetically designed and extended to provide a light, spacious family home which has been well laid out for modern day living. The beautiful walled gardens are perfectly orientated for all day sunshine.

To the front of the house is ample off-street parking.

beautiful and very well presented seven bedroom detached house ideally located for Rokeby, Holy Cross and Coombe junior and infant schools.

The ground floor comprises: a spacious entrance hall which leads to a generous reception room, contemporary kitchen, second reception which leads out to the pretty rear garden with terrace, and utility room.

KNIGHT FRANK

KNIGHT FRANK

Wimbledon,, 020 8115 9703 dominic.pasqua@knightfrank.com

Wimbledon, 020 8115 9703 dominic.pasqua@knightfrank.com

SW 2 0, G U I D E £ 2 ,75 0 P C M

T

his beautiful and unique apartment has wooden floors throughout and comprises a good size reception room with high ceilings and a working fireplace as well as patio doors that lead directly out to the garden. The apartment further includes a stylish kitchen with granite work surfaces, two double bedrooms, plentiful storage space, a modern family bathroom and a private decked area.

KNIGHT FRANK Wimbledon, 020 3823 9262 www.knightfrank.co.uk

A MODERN FAMILY SPACE WITH BI-FOLD DOORS OPENING ON TO A LANDSCAPED GARDEN

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

LTD_KINGSTON_JFEB19.indd 95

95

22/01/2019 15:54

house..indd 1

26/06/2018 16:17

country house town house period house modern house dream house moving house?

Estate agency has moved on. house. is different We know people are starting to consider online only estate agents, but still want the reassurance of face-to-face help from local experts.

You get both with us, because we provide that personal service without expensive high street locations that customers have to pay for.

We also go further to ensure your property and the lifestyle it enables is shown in the best possible light.

Sumptuous photography and video, and a contemporary web experience not only shows buyers how your home looks, but how it feels to live there. It’s the new, innovative way to add value when selling your house.

The premium online estate agency.

London, Surrey and Sussex 0800 917 0447 info@housepartnership.co.uk

housepartnership.co.uk

house..indd 2

26/06/2018 16:16

We’ll just get a really obedient dog

PRIME LOCATION.indd 1

11/10/2018 12:24

The heart wants what the heart wants.

Discover rural cottages with acres of space using keyword search.

PRIME LOCATION.indd 2

11/10/2018 12:25

JA Palm Tree Court, Dubai

Call us 0208 329 2679 Book online www.letsgo2.com Visit us Chessington, Surrey

JA Beach Hotel, Dubai

Caribbean & Mexico | Europe | Indian Ocean | Asia Middle East | USA | Multi Centre Holidays

Winners of the British Travel Awards 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018 LG2.indd 1

22/01/2019 10:13